Biography
Lil Rel Howery (born Milton Howery Jr. on December 17, 1979, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer whose unique blend of sharp observational humor and relatable everyman charisma has made him one of Hollywood’s most recognizable comedic talents. After building a strong reputation on the stand-up circuit, Howery gained national attention through appearances on NBC’s Last Comic Standing and as a cast member, writer, and producer on MTV’s Friends of the People. His breakout television success continued with recurring and guest-starring roles on acclaimed series including The Carmichael Show, Insecure, The Chi, South Side, A Black Lady Sketch Show, Poker Face, and his own Fox sitcom Rel, which he executive produced and starred in.
Howery achieved mainstream stardom in 2017 with his scene-stealing performance as TSA officer Rod Williams in Jordan Peele’s critically acclaimed horror phenomenon Get Out. Widely regarded as one of the film’s breakout stars, his performance earned him the MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Comedic Performance and an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture. Get Out remains one of the defining films of his career and helped establish him as a sought-after actor in both comedy and drama.
Following the success of Get Out, Howery became a prolific presence on both the big and small screen, appearing in hit films such as Tag, Uncle Drew, Bird Box, Good Boys, Brittany Runs a Marathon, The Photograph, Bad Trip, Judas and the Black Messiah, Free Guy, Vacation Friends, National Champions, Deep Water, The Out-Laws, The Mill, Dashing Through the Snow, Good Burger 2, Reunion, and the acclaimed coming-of-age drama We Grown Now. He has also become a popular voice actor, lending his talents to projects including The Angry Birds Movie 2, Luck, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, Harold and the Purple Crayon, and Dog Man.
In addition to acting, Howery has maintained a successful stand-up comedy career with specials such as Kevin Hart Presents: Lil Rel: RELevent, Lil Rel Howery: Live in Crenshaw, I Said It. Y’all Thinking It., and Rel Talk. His writing work on I Said It. Y’all Thinking It. earned him an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special, further showcasing his versatility as a performer and storyteller.
As of 2026, Howery continues to expand his creative footprint as an actor, producer, writer, and director. His recent work includes appearances in One of Them Days, voice performances in Dog Man, producing roles on projects such as Code 3 and Reunion, and upcoming films including Fck Valentine’s Day* and Animal Friends. He also received 2026 Annie Award and NAACP Image Award nominations for his voice performance as Chief in Dog Man, highlighting his growing influence in animation. With a career spanning stand-up, television, film, voice acting, writing, and producing, Lil Rel Howery remains one of the entertainment industry’s most versatile and consistently engaging performers.
